Henry Brougham (1778-1868)

Henry Brougham (1778-1868)

Lord Chancellor

Henry, first baron Brougham and Vaux, was a founder of the 'Edinburgh Review' (1802). He moved to London in 1804 where he practised law, continued his interest in science and wrote columns for 'The Times'. He married Mary Spalding at Coldstream in 1819. He became a Member of Parliament and during his political career brought in reform of education, the law and oversight of charities. He was Lord Chancellor from 1830 to 1834. He died in Cannes on 7 May 1868. The Brougham carriage is named after him.

Birth in 1778

Henry Peter Brougham was born on 19 September 1778, the son of Henry Brougham and Eleonara Syme. The entry in the Old Parish Register (OPR) for Edinburgh gives the date of baptism as Wednesday 30 September and includes the names of two witnesses - Archibald Hope, Royal Bank and the Reverend Principal William Robertson.